10.5 Straight Rotation (http://www.105straightrotation.com) is a new game Allen Hopkins Jr. has, or at least was, developing.
The Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/105StraightRotation) has only 59 likes and seems to have been abandoned by Allen. Actually, by everyone.
A couple of buddies and I have been playing it as a practice game for the last few months. We've been adjusting the rules to make the game a bit more difficult, particularly since the rules Allen has listed are in beta form per his site.
I really enjoy the game and I thought I'd post here to drum up any interest there might be, get other opinions on the game, and to discuss the game and ideas for the best rule set.
Allen's rules are:
- All 15 balls racked as shown in logo (see my avatar)
- Shoot until all balls are pocketed:
- First 10 balls in any order and pocket - worth 1 point each
- Last 5 balls must be in rotation (number order) - worth face value for points
- You do not "lose a turn" if you miss - shoot until all your balls are down. You're playing for a score.
- Balls made on break stay down. Breaking dry counts as a miss.
- Count misses and scratches:
- Each miss is minus 2 points (-2)
- Each scratch is minus 5 points (-5) and results in Ball-In-Hand (pocketed balls spotted)
- Total up your points for the rack and subtract for misses/scratches
- A perfect rack woud be 75 points:
- First 10 worth 1 point each, last 5 worth face value
- Optimal strategy is to always save 11,12,13,14, and 15 balls for the last 5 shots
11 + 12 +13 +14 +15 = 65 (combined with 10 pts for 1st ten equals 75 possible points)
Additionally we've been playing with the following rules:
- Scratch on the Break: Ball in hand is behind the head string. Pocketed balls are spotted.
- Call Two: You must call your object ball/pocket as well as your next ball/pocket. You are not required to shoot the second called ball/pocket, but failing to do so results in a 1 point penalty.
- Making Shape: Intentionally missing a ball with the intent of setting up position is permitted, but results in a 3 point penalty.
- Fouls: Any action which would normally constitute a foul is penalized as a scratch, a 5 point penalty.
- No Good Fortune: Any solid pocketed unintentionally is spotted. Stripes pocketed unintentionally during the straight pool phase stay down. Stripes pocketed unintentionally during the rotation phase are spotted.
- Pure Rotation: During the rotation phase the lowest numbered ball on the table must be struck and pocketed in a called pocket. No combinations nor slop allowed.
I believe that's everything we've added up to this point. If I think of anything I missed I'll edit.
Anyway, has anyone heard of it, played it, interested? I'd love to see some discussion on the game.
Scott
The Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/105StraightRotation) has only 59 likes and seems to have been abandoned by Allen. Actually, by everyone.
A couple of buddies and I have been playing it as a practice game for the last few months. We've been adjusting the rules to make the game a bit more difficult, particularly since the rules Allen has listed are in beta form per his site.
I really enjoy the game and I thought I'd post here to drum up any interest there might be, get other opinions on the game, and to discuss the game and ideas for the best rule set.
Allen's rules are:
- All 15 balls racked as shown in logo (see my avatar)
- Shoot until all balls are pocketed:
- First 10 balls in any order and pocket - worth 1 point each
- Last 5 balls must be in rotation (number order) - worth face value for points
- You do not "lose a turn" if you miss - shoot until all your balls are down. You're playing for a score.
- Balls made on break stay down. Breaking dry counts as a miss.
- Count misses and scratches:
- Each miss is minus 2 points (-2)
- Each scratch is minus 5 points (-5) and results in Ball-In-Hand (pocketed balls spotted)
- Total up your points for the rack and subtract for misses/scratches
- A perfect rack woud be 75 points:
- First 10 worth 1 point each, last 5 worth face value
- Optimal strategy is to always save 11,12,13,14, and 15 balls for the last 5 shots
11 + 12 +13 +14 +15 = 65 (combined with 10 pts for 1st ten equals 75 possible points)
Additionally we've been playing with the following rules:
- Scratch on the Break: Ball in hand is behind the head string. Pocketed balls are spotted.
- Call Two: You must call your object ball/pocket as well as your next ball/pocket. You are not required to shoot the second called ball/pocket, but failing to do so results in a 1 point penalty.
- Making Shape: Intentionally missing a ball with the intent of setting up position is permitted, but results in a 3 point penalty.
- Fouls: Any action which would normally constitute a foul is penalized as a scratch, a 5 point penalty.
- No Good Fortune: Any solid pocketed unintentionally is spotted. Stripes pocketed unintentionally during the straight pool phase stay down. Stripes pocketed unintentionally during the rotation phase are spotted.
- Pure Rotation: During the rotation phase the lowest numbered ball on the table must be struck and pocketed in a called pocket. No combinations nor slop allowed.
I believe that's everything we've added up to this point. If I think of anything I missed I'll edit.
Anyway, has anyone heard of it, played it, interested? I'd love to see some discussion on the game.
Scott
